Last Updated on February 23, 2024
Bloggers shouldn’t limit themselves to one or two types of posts. They must explore all types of posts to see which ones would resonate best with their audience.
Also, certain topics become more digestible when paired with a certain blog type.
These are the main reasons why having different types leads to more organic traffic.
If you’re new to the world of blogging, this post is perfect for you.
Today, you’re going to learn about the seven most common blog types that writers and marketers like to use to populate their blog sites.
Let’s begin.
Listicles
Writing listicles is the best starting point for someone new to the blogging scene. Depending on the topic, listicles could be the easiest type of content to produce.
Here’s one example of a listicle about the best reverb pedals.
The listicle functions both as an informative post and a mini-review. Not only does it highlight products that fit under the main topic, but it also discusses what’s good about each one along with their pros and cons.
You can choose to write your listicles that way. You can even go in-depth if that’s what you prefer. However, some bloggers prefer to keep their listicles short so they don’t lose the attention of their readers.
It’s totally up to you.
How-to Guides
There’ll never be a shortage of people wanting to learn how to do things. And that’s why how-to guides will always be a popular blog post content type.
These can range from simple to wildly complicated. If you want to publish how-to guides, you’ll have to learn how to break down complex issues into something the average person can easily consume.
It will also help if you focus on topics that you’re comfortable writing about. For example, it only makes sense for a web hosting service provider to write about how to start a WordPress site.
How-to guides can be just about anything. But it would be better if you could perform keyword research to see which topics people want to know more about. You can then use your findings to determine what how-to guides to publish.
Statistics
Statistics require solid data that you have to produce yourself. This could mean running a series of tests to prove or disprove a theory.
Those with no data to share will usually quote studies done by other companies. Or they’ll amass tons of data from tests conducted in the past to provide their readers with immense value about the topic.
For example, Erik Emanuelli published an exhaustive SEO statistics post that features the most relevant data about the industry.
By curating the best and hardest data, they raise a brand’s credibility even if they didn’t conduct the studies themselves.
And as for the readers themselves, they can use these statistics to make informed decisions or support their claims and assumptions.
Infographics
Some topics are better presented visually. Through vector art, you can give people a better way of digesting information faster. That’s what infographics are all about.
Just in case you haven’t seen one before, here’s one courtesy of the USDA.
Bloggers like using infographics for several reasons.
First, infographics are easy to share with other users. It’s not that uncommon to find these on social media sites. Then there’s the possibility of appearing in more search engine queries. Infographics can appear in both regular and image searches.
But there are some downsides. If you’re not versed in graphic design, you might have a hard time coming up with a good infographic for your blog post.
What you can do is use third-party apps that help users create compelling infographics without needing to learn graphic design. Or you can hire a freelancer to help with the project.
Interviews
Interviews can be entertaining and informative. It’s no wonder then that bloggers use them all the time.
There are several advantages to publishing interviews. Since the majority of the content will be direct quotes from the interview, they’re not that hard to write.
Also, think about the audience crossover. Both you and your guest could get exposed to an audience that may not have heard of you before.
Here’s an interview by the Harvard Business Review with Vera Wang.
While interviews may seem easy, they require a lot of preparation. Not only do you have to coordinate with your guest and handle all the logistics, but you also have to think about what you’re going to ask on the day of.
Do your research and come up with great questions — preferably ones that your guest has not answered before.
Reviews
People rely on reviews to not only learn more about a product or service but to also see if it is right for their needs.
The nice thing about reviews is that they cover a lot of industries. You can publish product reviews in tech, clothing, apparel, healthcare, food, entertainment, gaming, and other industries.
Here’s an example of a partial video game review by IGN.
Affiliate marketers like publishing reviews because they’re highly transactional. That means people who look at reviews are more likely to buy the product they’re researching.
That’s one use case that you should keep in mind when thinking about doing reviews. Not only can they increase your site traffic, but they can also lead to profit.
Personal Stories
You can’t go wrong with sharing personal stories through your blog. However, you’ll want to focus on a specific niche. It’ll make it easier for you to optimize your blog for search engines. In addition, it’ll make it easier for your target audience to connect with your content.
Here’s an example of a personal blogger that chose to focus on lifestyle and travel as an example.
Personal stories remain popular because of how impactful they can be. People follow their favorite personal bloggers because they’re able to relate to their messages.
There are even others who feel they can live vicariously through the personal bloggers they follow.
When you write personal blogs, be sure to include photos and videos to breathe life into your adventures. They’ll make your stories more believable.
Conclusion
There are more types of blog posts that you can explore as a writer or marketer. But listicles, how-to guides, case studies, infographics, interviews, reviews, and personal stories are a great start.
Experimenting with different types of posts will lead to more chances of ranking on search engines. It will also help you determine what kind of content your readers want from you.
Start adding new types of blogs to your content calendar to get the most traffic for your blog site.